In Vitro Studies of Caries of the Enamel in the Syrian Hamster

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Abstract
Organisms were cultured from scrapings taken from the plaque overlying an early carious area. Filamentous forms were obtained which correspond closely with some oral strains classified as Actinomyces bovis or A. israeli. Small forms resembling diphtheroids, short bacilli, and irregular cocci were frequently associated with the filaments in one colony. An attempt was made to produce caries in vitro with the strains isolated from teeth scrapings. Unerupted 1st and 2d molars of the hamster were removed aseptically, placed in Difco Proteose Peptone No. 3 broth and incubated for 10 days to establish their sterility. The broth was inoculated with a pure culture of human or hamster filaments. The tubes were then incubated for 3-5 mos., fresh broth being added periodically. The teeth were then removed, fixed in formol, decalcified and sectioned. The picture in the first molar inoculated with a hamster strain was identical with that seen in human caries and hamster caries. The organisms penetrate along selected channels, invade and utilize the organic matrix. The 2d molar inoc. with a human strain showed penetration by filamentous forms similar to that seen in the other molar.

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